Polymerization and Heats of Reaction

Any chemical reaction that is accompanied by enthalpy changes can be followed by calorimetric methods [3,24,29], DSC is widely used to study polymerizing systems, especially epoxides [55-57]. Both the rate and the extent of reaction can be monitored using either isothermal or scanning modes of operation [3,24,29]. If volatile products are formed, the reaction must be carried out in sealed pans or under pressure [58] to conserve mass and avoid an uncertain correction for vaporization or to pressure-shift simultaneous vaporization events. 

Differential scanning calorimetry is applicable to the measurement of transition temperatures, specific heats, and heats of transition or reaction for all nonvolatile materials that do not evolve significant amounts of volatiles by reaction. The usual temperature range covered is -150 to 725°C. 

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